The great gambling climbdown

By BENEDICT BROGAN, Daily Mail

Last updated at 09:00 09 November 2004

The number of new supercasinos will be slashed to a handful as part of a massive Government climbdown on the Gambling Bill.

Whips were last night negotiating with Labour rebels on the details of a compromise that will be slipped into the legislation, possibly this week. The outline of a deal began to emerge last night at Westminster as MPs stepped up their pressure for major changes to the legislation.

The compromise, which could be put to MPs on Thursday, follows an unprecedented public campaign spearheaded by the Daily Mail.

Academics, religious leaders, community groups and charities joined more than 100,000 readers in backing the Mail's call for the casino element of the Bill to be abandoned.

Numbers limited

Rebel MPs want the number of casinos to be limited to as few as four in specific areas and fixed for five years, with a provision that any change has to be approved by Parliament.

Under one scheme being canvassed by Labour Whips, Ministers will propose to allow just nine to be built - one for every region. The number would be capped for five years, with a condition that any change be a matter for Parliament.

But even nine new supercasinos could be too high for the more than 50 Labour campaigners who have been lobbying Ministers to ditch a proposal they say runs counter to Labour's historic commitment to protecting the vulnerable.

John Grogan, one of the Labour MPs who has led the rebellion, said: "Pressure is mounting on the Government to put a formal cap on the number of supercasinos.

"Many of my colleagues and I will hope that this cap can only be lifted by primary legislation through Parliament and not through ministerial order."

Amendment

A Tory amendment tabled last night proposes to make new casinos conditional on a pilot project that would involve an even smaller number for a five-year trial period.

John Whittingdale, the Tory culture spokesman, said: "If the Gambling Bill is to stand any chance of becoming law, then the Government has to accept that there must be a pilot scheme."

Although negotiations have several days to go, it appeared last night that the Government was ready to run up the white flag on casinos in an attempt to save the rest of the Bill.

A Government source said: "It's clear that what really concerns people is proliferation. Whatever we do it will have to deal with that. There is still a bit of number crunching to do."

The legislation, which was supposed to herald a revolution in the gambling law, also paved the way for a boom in Las Vegas-style resorts across the country. More than 130 planning applications have been submitted for casinos, despite Ministers insisting the actual number will be no more than 40.

Humiliating retreat

Tessa Jowell, the Minister responsible, was forced into a humiliating retreat last week in the face of a mounting Labour rebellion. Her case for the legislation was sapped by revelations about the Government's close links with the U.S. gaming industry.

Tony Blair saw his 159 majority slashed to just 74 when the Gambling Bill was given its second reading.

The legislation, which also regulates internet betting and tightens the rules to prevent minors from gambling, begins its detailed scrutiny by a Commons committee today.